Working Group Part 1 | Group Judging (2018)

ANNOUNCER 3: Yeah, 29 entries. Boxers have the most working group wins and placements. And as you see, Best in Show 15 times have come from this group.

ANNOUNCER 4: But after seeing that piece with Shannon, it's more appropriate than ever to say these dogs have jobs to do. And they have big hearts. And they're used to working with people, and making sure that our society is protected, and pulled in sleds, and protecting herds, and saving people from water rescue.

ANNOUNCER 3: From floods to fires, they do the job. And there is Robert Slay. Served as a Naval officer after graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi. He's our working group judge.

- Robert, you first started judging all the way back in 1979. How has the game evolved in your eyes?

- Well, there's been a lot of changes over the decades since I started in 1979. For instance, we had 127 recognized breeds. Tonight, today, we have 192. So that's how this sport has grown.

KARYN BRYANT: Well, it certainly has come along. And in the past, you have judged the herding group. Tonight you're judging the working group. How is that going to be different for you? What will you take from those past experiences?

- Well, I don't think there will really be much different between judging the herding group and the working group. The procedure will be basically the same. As I think about this working group this particular time, I anticipate it probably being the most competitive judging assignment I've ever had, because there's just so many outstanding working dogs being shown throughout the country right now.

KARYN BRYANT: Well, it's a tough job, but somebody's got to do it. Have fun out there tonight.

ROBERT SLAY: I'm looking forward to it.

KARYN BRYANT: Thank you.

ROBERT SLAY: You bet.

ANNOUNCER 4: And as Mr. Slay said, there are several breeds that have been recognized more recently. We have 202 that were eligible to enter Westminster this year. And now we're going to start with the first one, the Akita.

ANNOUNCER 3: Michael?

ANNOUNCER 1: A national treasure in Japan, the Akita's proud heritage includes hunting large game. This powerful and dignified dog is renowned for courage and loyalty, but may not be tolerant of other animals. Somewhat aloof toward strangers, they form strong family bonds. The Akita is highly intelligent, and responds best to early socialization and training. This is Akita, number 18.

ANNOUNCER 3: Nik on display. Helen Keller gets credit for-- at least partial credit for bringing the very first Akita to the US. And there's a great story about a patient Akita.

ANNOUNCER 5: Yeah, and so in Japan when the breed was established, there was a Akita that the owner died, and he waited at the train station for his owner to come back.

ANNOUNCER 3: Not just a year or two.

ANNOUNCER 5: Not just a year or two.

- Thank you.

ANNOUNCER 5: Nine years. Every day he would wait for his owner to come home.

ANNOUNCER 3: Well, I think a movie version adaptation with Richard Gere was done in that.

ANNOUNCER 5: Yeah, absolutely.

ANNOUNCER 3: --fascinating loyalty.

ANNOUNCER 1: The Alaskan Malamute is the most powerful of the Arctic breed, with a thick double-coat and boundless energy. It originally excelled at pulling heavy loads, and now makes an excellent active companion if the owner is up to it. In 2010 the Malamute became the official state dog of its native Alaska. This is Alaskan Malamute, number 21.

ANNOUNCER 3: And thank you, Michael. Michael's been doing this for 17 years. So you've both judged here. And Gail, we talk about what the dog's role is without seeing them in action doing their job, just judging here, how difficult is that?

ANNOUNCER 4: Well, it's not difficult when you are familiar with the standards. And of course, Mr. Slay's very familiar with the Alaskan malamute standard. Knows that they were-- what they were bred to do. They're a pulling breed. Obviously, in cold temperatures--

ROBERT SLAY: Thank you.

ANNOUNCER 4: --the coat's very important. Mike Stone here is showing Cloud, who's very accomplished, number one Malamute, also won the group one at the National Championship.

ANNOUNCER 1: Anatolian Shepherd dog is an ancient breed from Turkey and Asia Minor. A true working dog bred to be a livestock guardian, he is highly intelligent, independent, extremely fast, and agile. He is also territorial. So a formal introduction is necessary for strangers. This is Anatolian Shepherd dog, number nine.

ANNOUNCER 3: Ates. His name means fire in Turkish. And the third straight dog from California that we are watching in the working group.

The Westminster Kennel Club, this show is truly the greatest dog show in the world. Nearly 2,900 dogs from all 50 states represented.

ROBERT SLAY: Thank you.

ANNOUNCER 3: 16 countries competing this year. California leading the pack with 240 dogs, followed closely by New York at 238. Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Florida rounding out the top five represented.

ANNOUNCER 1: These Swiss farm dogs of the mastiff type were early helpers to Alpine herders, and could be seen pulling their carts off to market well late into the 1800s. The Bernese Mountain dogs are large, strong, tricolor dogs with a self-confident nature. They are a versatile breed enjoying many performance activities as well as serving as therapy dogs. This is Bernese Mountain dog, number 37.

ANNOUNCER 5: So last night we saw the Entlebucher. And this is another one of the tricolor, or Sennenhund, dogs.

ANNOUNCER 4: They really are great family pets, this breed. And I know people live in the city even with them, because they're so easygoing, just want to be with their people. This is Damon, who's won Best of Breed at the National Championship as well as here at Westminster, being shown.

ROBERT SLAY: Thank you.

ANNOUNCER 3: Ancestors of this breed were brought to Switzerland over 2,000 years ago by Roman soldiers.

[APPLAUSE]

ANNOUNCER 1: The Black Russian Terrier is a large and powerful dog that is highly intelligent and dominant in nature. The breed was developed in Russia in the 1950s. With proper socialization and training, they make excellent companions. But this is not a breed for the first-time dog owner. This is Black Russian Terrier, number 19.

ANNOUNCER 5: So when they talk about a dog being developed, this dog was actually developed after World War II by the Russians.

ROBERT SLAY: All right.

ANNOUNCER 5: And they wanted a dog that could do everything and would also be intimidating. And as you can see, this is an imposing dog.

ANNOUNCER 4: It can be. It can be, that's for sure. And this particular dog that Jamie Clute is showing, Ringo, is-- it's interesting-- interestingly, was brought just to be a family pet, not to be a show dog, and then here he is at the group at The Garden.

ANNOUNCER 3: This breed can weigh up to 140 pounds and be up to 30 inches at the shoulders.

ANNOUNCER 5: Right. And you can see why this would be a military dog. I mean, that's why they made this dog.

ANNOUNCER 4: Well, and then there are plenty in the working group tonight that we're going to see that are-- they are, they can seem imposing, but they can also be really nice, protective pets.

ANNOUNCER 1: The Boerboel is a descendant of mastiffs that first came to South Africa with the founders of the Dutch settlements in 1652. An all around farm dog and guardian, the Boerboel is a agile and intelligent breed that is devoted to its family. They are self-assured, fearless, and strong-willed requiring frequent and ongoing socialization. This is Boerboel, number seven.

- OK.

ANNOUNCER 4: This is Oblio. I have to tell you, I've worked with Oblio in media appearances. And he has got to be the sweetest dog you're ever going to meet. He is, as you said, imposing. He's strong. He's muscular. I'm sure could do what he was originally bred to do. But he is the sweetest heart and a great ambassador for his breed.

ANNOUNCER 5: So we have Oblio the Boerboel. Try to say that three--

ANNOUNCER 4: Oblio the Boerboel. Try and say that. That's right.

ANNOUNCER 5: It's a challenge.

ANNOUNCER 4: Oblio is being shown by Kasey Von Engel, of course.

ANNOUNCER 3: And Boerboel means--

ROBERT SLAY: All right, thank you. Right around.

ANNOUNCER 3: --it means farm dog.

ANNOUNCER 5: Right. That's what it translates to, exactly.

ANNOUNCER 3: Remember, we're bark-lingual here. We--

ANNOUNCER 5: That's right.

ANNOUNCER 3: --can handle that.

ANNOUNCER 1: The Boxer is fearless, highly intelligent, and happy. Originally bred to run down and hold wild boar and bear, he's not a dog for the timid, and can be protective when called upon. Extremely intuitive, he is at all times responsive to his owner's moods and is a fine alert companion dog for any family. This is Boxer, number 10.

ANNOUNCER 5: So as you can see, this dog has a little--

ROBERT SLAY: All right.

ANNOUNCER 5: --different shape than the last dog we saw. This is a tall, square, compact dog. And when you look at its head, it has an undershot jaw. It's very typical of the breed.

ANNOUNCER 4: They're very athletic, smooth, and graceful.

- Hey, buddy.

ANNOUNCER 3: A Boxer--

ANNOUNCER 4: Oh, here we go. He's just--

ANNOUNCER 3: Uh-oh.

ANNOUNCER 4: That camera's getting his attention.

ANNOUNCER 3: Yeah, it's a--

- [INAUDIBLE] come on. Thor. Let's go.

ANNOUNCER 3: --it's a robotic camera. So he's probably wondering where the camera operator is. Is this a union shop?

ANNOUNCER 5: Yeah, we train our dogs for a lot of things, but not robots. They got back together right away. That's great.

ANNOUNCER 3: Devlin won the working group last year, a Boxer, by the way.

ANNOUNCER 4: This is Thor. Thor is the second Thor tonight. Hmm, popular name. Multiple Best in Show winner, being shown by Hernan Pacheco.

- [INAUDIBLE]

ANNOUNCER 4: You see the dog comes back to the judge. He's throwing--

ROBERT SLAY: Thank you.

ANNOUNCER 4: --the bait to try and get the dog's ears up.

ANNOUNCER 3: Now, does that work against the judging, that incident?

ANNOUNCER 4: Oh, no.

ANNOUNCER 3: No. OK.

ANNOUNCER 1: The Bullmastiff, the original gamekeeper's night dog, was developed to protect English estates from poachers in the latter half of the 19th century. Today's Bullmastiff is athletic and agile, a dog who is sound in temperament and body. He's a dependable and loyal family member, and still protective of his master's property. This is Bullmastiff, number 20.

ANNOUNCER 4: Just to finish here your question, Chris. The handlers have to-- they get the dog back under control, so the judge can judge them properly. Sometimes things like that happen in the ring. But Mr. Slay will not be swayed one way or another.

ANNOUNCER 3: There you go. Hey, good play on words, Gail.

ANNOUNCER 5: Right.

ANNOUNCER 3: Slay will not be swayed. So the Bullmastiff, right, so we're told they don't bark as much, because silence is important when guarding estates, right? I know you've said that about me, silence is important when doing the show.

ANNOUNCER 5: --area from people sneaking in on the land during the night. So you didn't want a dog that was vocal all the time.

ANNOUNCER 4: Silence. Because silence is your best friend there.

ANNOUNCER 5: And we see a few things flying off the jaw there.

ANNOUNCER 4: Champion [INAUDIBLE]

ANNOUNCER 5: The big shake.

ANNOUNCER 4: --to protect and serve and shake.

ANNOUNCER 1: The Cane Corso is a descendant of ancient Roman Molossian dog that accompanied the legions on their vast campaigns across Europe. After the fall of the Roman Empire, his versatility was put to good use as a livestock guardian, and is a valuable aid in the hunt. His temperament is a unique blend of guardian and companion to the family. This is Cane Corso, number 18.

ANNOUNCER 4: Here we have Mensa, who is another therapy dog. Now, this-- you can see this dog--

ROBERT SLAY: Stay.

ANNOUNCER 4: --coming into a hospital or a school and calming everyone down.

ANNOUNCER 3: Gail, when they say he's a-- has a Canine Good Citizen title, obviously, we know what the words mean, but tell us more about--

ANNOUNCER 4: Well, basically, that means that he's proven he's a good community member. You can take him places. He can behave and be well-mannered in different circumstances.

ANNOUNCER 5: Sure, and they test them for different type of environmental situations, like an umbrella opening or having to walk--

ROBERT SLAY: Thank you.

ANNOUNCER 5: --by a strange object.

ANNOUNCER 4: Or other dog.

ANNOUNCER 5: Or other dog. So they may make sure they're a well-rounded dog.

ANNOUNCER 1: The Doberman Pinscher's named after its developer, Louis Dobermann. Rottweilers, local sheepdogs, and an old German Pinscher were used to perfect the ultimate police-type dog. Today, because of their innate desire to be of service, Dobermans succeed both in therapy work and as service dogs. This is Doberman Pinscher, number 44.

ANNOUNCER 3: And that's Rip. You know, Louis Dobermann was a tax--

ROBERT SLAY: Thank you.

ANNOUNCER 3: --a tax collector in Germany, and needed protection when going to collect the money. He was also the--

ANNOUNCER 5: I don't blame him.

ANNOUNCER 3: He was the dog catcher. And he brought along the dogs. So that's where the name-- you heard Michael Lafave refer to that. And tax season's not far away. Bring your Doberman.

ANNOUNCER 5: And her mother was showing in the toy group the other day. And you can see right here, this is a--

ROBERT SLAY: Thank you.

ANNOUNCER 5: --great example of a dog that is poured into his skin.

ANNOUNCER 3: There you go.

ANNOUNCER 5: And you can see the intensity in a Doberman.

ANNOUNCER 4: Absolutely.

ANNOUNCER 5: He's always watching.

ANNOUNCER 4: Always alert.

ANNOUNCER 1: Dogue de Bordeaux is one of the most ancient of French breeds. Historically used as a guardian, hunter, and fighter, the breed was prized as a protector. His stocky and athletic build, self-assurance, and serious expression make for an imposing appearance. Gifted for guarding, he is a very good companion, and is loyal and affectionate to his master. This is Dogue de Bordeaux, number eight.

ROBERT SLAY: OK, thank you.

ANNOUNCER 3: This breed was in the Tom Hanks movie, if you go back, "Turner and Hooch."

ANNOUNCER 5: "Turner and Hooch."

ANNOUNCER 3: It was Hooch. Real name Beasley back in the movie, but familiar.

ANNOUNCER 4: Interest--

ANNOUNCER 5: Sorry, Gail.

ANNOUNCER 4: I was just going to say, it's interesting that Gertie here, of course, being a Dogue de Bordeaux. They're a very interesting working breed. But Gertie specializes in lure coursing. That's something you usually see--

ANNOUNCER 5: That's unique for--

ANNOUNCER 4: --Afghans--

ANNOUNCER 5: --a Dogue de Bordeaux.

ANNOUNCER 4: --or Salukis doing.

ANNOUNCER 3: And Gertie likes to roll in the snow, according to the owner/handler. And here he's just shaking off the pressure of a big night, getting closer.

ANNOUNCER 5: And you see this head. The circumference of this dog's head should be as much as the height.

ANNOUNCER 3: That's the standard.

ANNOUNCER 5: Yeah.

ANNOUNCER 3: OK.

ANNOUNCER 5: So that's why you get that large head.

ANNOUNCER 1: A German Pinscher is a multipurpose breed originally kept as a stable dog and renowned as a ratter. A dedicated companion and loyal protector of home and family, the German Pinscher is determined and assertive. Obedience training is definitely recommended for these intelligent, energetic, and willing learners. This is German Pinscher, number 12.

- Let's do it.

ANNOUNCER 5: So when you look at this dog, we just had the Doberman Pinscher--

ANNOUNCER 4: Oh, he's taking a stretch. Stretch it out.

ANNOUNCER 5: He's getting limber to go. This isn't a miniature Doberman Pinscher. So this dog was developed from a few breeds. It had the Doberman, the Miniature Pinscher, and actually, the Affenpinscher and some Schnauzer breeds.

ANNOUNCER 3: Near extinction during World War I and even during World War II.

ANNOUNCER 4: Many breeds actually were near--

ROBERT SLAY: Thank you. Right around.

ANNOUNCER 4: --extinction--

ANNOUNCER 3: Through the war.

ANNOUNCER 4: --excuse me, because of the war. But the dedicated breeders have brought them back to where they are today, flourishing, is really a testament to their dedication.

ANNOUNCER 1: The Giant Schnauzer appeared in Germany in the late 1800s. He was almost certainly a herding dog, but became popular as a guard or watch dog. The Miniature Schnauzer, which is shown as a terrier, and the Standard and Giant, which are shown here as working dogs, are three distinct breeds. This is Giant Schnauzer, number nine.

ANNOUNCER 4: And as we said at the top of the show, the number one dog in the country is here tonight. This is--

- All right.

ANNOUNCER 4: --Ty, who's being shown by Katie Bernardin.

ANNOUNCER 3: And that ranking is based on what?

ANNOUNCER 4: That's based on dogs defeated.

ROBERT SLAY: Straight down and back.

ANNOUNCER 4: So that means Ty went to dog shows all across the country this year, and was Best in Show or top dog the most.

ANNOUNCER 3: Earned that ranking, almost like a--

ANNOUNCER 4: Earned that ranking.

ANNOUNCER 3: --college football ranking. You win at a place like Orlando, Philadelphia, or at least you show well.

ANNOUNCER 4: That's right. And he broke the record for the breed. He's the all-time top-winning Giant Schnauzer in the breed now. He won his national specialty. And now he's-- oh, looks like he's putting on a great show tonight.

- Thank you.

ANNOUNCER 5: That's what they do. When they've been to so many shows, they learn the routine and they perform every time.

ANNOUNCER 4: Katie won best junior handler at Westminster in 2004. So she's been in the spotlight before.

ANNOUNCER 1: The Great Dane is a true giant among the large breed, descending from the Irish Wolfhound and mastiff lines. The breed was developed in Germany some 400 years ago to hunt wild boar. Despite the name, he has no known connection to Denmark. His impressive size yet friendly and gentle nature combine to create a first-rate companion. This is Great Dane, number 22.

ANNOUNCER 3: They stand as high as 32 inches at the shoulder, towering over most dogs.

- Leave it.

ANNOUNCER 5: That's the minimum we want. So they can get even taller than that. You know, this is what we call the Apollo of dogs. It's not the Hercules of dogs. We don't want that overbound muscle. But this is the Apollo of dogs. It's a strong, elegant dog that hunted wild boar.

ANNOUNCER 3: And we are dog lovers here in attendance and watching. In 2017--

- All right, right around.

ANNOUNCER 3: --20% of the people polled were buying a Valentine's Day gift for their pet. 9 million-- [INAUDIBLE] says, 9 million Americans spent money on Valentine's Day for cards for their dogs. All right. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day. We're glad you're spending tonight with us at a dog show.